SWINDON Town manager Luke Williams has offered the fans that travelled to Glanford Park on Saturday his apologies after they were forced to sit through an abysmal showing from their side.

Scunthorpe had put the game to bed by half-time as a Paddy Madden brace was added to by Duane Holmes and Kevin Van Veen, all in front of the travelling supporters.

Swindon were able to gain some respectability back in the second half as Nathan Thompson pulled a goal back but it wasn’t enough as Scunthorpe sauntered to victory.

Fans who made the 400-mile round trip have now seen Swindon conceded 13 goals in their last three visits to North Lincolnshire.

Williams believed that his side were giving their all to please the fans who had made the long journey and give them a result to take home but once the fear-factor set in when they went a goal behind, having only picked up one win in their previous nine outings, it became hard for his players to express themselves.

When asked by BBC Wiltshire if he owed fans an apology, he replied: “I think so, absolutely.

“They have come a long way to see us and the minimum requirement is that the players really apply themselves and give every single effort.

“When the players are so nervous, they do give the impression that they are not pressing or not trying to make the tackle but it is more to do with the hesitation.

“It is to do with the worry about being picked off or whether you are going to give a free-kick away.

“It gives a terrible impression that the players are not prepared to run and not prepared to tackle.

“It is probably not accurate but either way, it doesn’t make any difference. It is not acceptable.

“These are professional footballers who have to overcome all these things we are talking about.

“For the fans, the bare essentials should be there.”